Abia police say some yet-to-be-identified armed hoodlums operating in three Toyota Sienna invaded Nkporo Police Divisional Headquarters in Ohafia Area Command.
According to the command Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, “the hoodlums, shot sporadically, dislodged the men on duty, broke into the Station’s Armoury and carted away one AK 47 rifle loaded with thirty rounds of live ammunition, two riot gunners and yet-to-be ascertained quantity of ammunition.
“They also made away with sets of service uniforms kept in the armoury and offices belonging to the Armourer and other policemen putting up in the station.
“Three Police constables among those on duty were inflicted with varying degrees of injury,” the PPRO said.
However, according to him, a prompt collaborative effort of the Police and Military, resulted in the abandonment and recovery of one Toyota Sienna van together with some service uniforms, shoes and personal effects taken away from the Policemen.
Two of the injured policemen he said are admitted to the hospital while one was treated and discharged, while an investigation has commenced with a view to recovering the stolen arms and ammunition as well as arresting the culprits.
The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Police Command, CP Mustapha Mohammed Bala, therefore, requested from the general public, useful information that would help in tracking down the hoodlums and recovery of the firearms.
Meanwhile, the police Command has paraded 6 suspects over illegal possession of firearms in Obingwa.
The suspects are Cyril Ubani Irobi (58), Destiny Chima (23), Emmanuel Asonye (30), Chukwudi Ajuzie (31), and Chisom Nwanjobi (20).
The CP explained that on Saturday, during the Presidential/National Assembly Election, “at about 11.20 am in Unit 006 Itu Nwaka, Itungwa area of Obingwa LGA, the suspects were arrested with four firearms by police operatives deployed for election duty in the area during the period of Presidential/NASS election”.
Two of the suspects, Destiny Chima, 23 years of Onicha Ebonyi State, and Emmanuel Asonye, 35yrs are from Ngor Okpala in Imo State, while Chukwudi Ajuzie, 31yrs is from Obingwa LGA and Chisom Nwanjobi, 20yrs is from Isiala Ngwa South.
On interrogation, they claimed that they are personnel of the Vigilant Group of Nigeria deployed to the house of the first suspect, Cyril Ubani Irobi in the Itungwa area in Obingwa to provide security.
Cyril Ubani, a Board member of Abia State Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba and an oil marketer, confessed that the armed men are his security guards deployed by Vigilant Group of Nigeria on guard at his house but followed him to the polling unit close to his residence; where he learnt, there was chaos.
The CP said the suspects will be charged in Court at the conclusion of their Investigation.
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